News Bulletin for People Involved in Early Child and Family Support
- for practitioners, family members and academics in any country
---------- Please send your news items to peter.limbrick@mailfence.com ----------
CSEI - UK - has responded to the government’s consultation on SEND reform and the Schools White Paper
CSIE’s main response was included in the submission from the collective voice of the Special Educational Consortium. In its additional submission, CSIE welcomed the focus on inclusion and drew attention to a number of issues that concern us...
https://csie.org.uk/putting-children-and-young-people-first-2/
Opticat, an NIHR-funded study - UK
is investigating community Care (Education) and Treatment Reviews (C(E)TRs). Could you contribute? The team seeks clinicians and care professional who have recent experience of C(E)TRs. They are asking for a single online interview where you can report your experiences and views. Please contact opticatstudy@kcl.ac.uk or Abigail Croydon abigail.croydon@kcl.ac.uk with any questions or expressions of interest.
MAY all Babies Thrive!
Join the National Collaborative for Infants & Toddlers (NCIT) and the early childhood community during the month of May in raising the alarm for needed investments and solutions for the key issues impacting infants and toddlers!
https://ncit.org/may-all-babies-thrive-month/
Addressing Social Norms in Transition Practice - Webinar Jun 3, 2026 02:00 PM in London
Efforts to transition away from residential care services are often constrained by deeply embedded social norms. These norms influence community attitudes towards residential care and the motivations of residential care service operators, most notably directors....
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_24htgij8QxWC42sU57oXgA#/registration
The Tizard Learning Disability Review is pleased to announce -
that the International Journal of Positive Behaviour Support (IJPBS) will now be integrated within our journal and continue as an annual special issue within the journal. From 2026 onwards, this dedicated special issue will focus on international applications of Positive Behaviour Support (PBS). The guest editors for the special issue will be Dr Anne MacDonald and Dr Joe Lucyshyn. The call for papers is now available:
https://www.emeraldgrouppublishing.com/calls-for-papers/international-positive-behavioural-support-special-issue
The BabblePlay Project
Tamar Keren-Portnoy: We are a team of researchers at the Universities of York and Manchester (England) , currently running a study called the BabblePlay project, in collaboration with Down Syndrome Education International (DSEI). The study involves testing a parent-led app designed to support early vocal development in babies with Down syndrome. We are inviting UK-based, English-speaking families with a baby with Down syndrome aged 7-15 months to take part (families can sign up when their baby is 3-13 months old)....
E-mail: tamar.keren-portnoy@york.ac.uk
DfE (England) announces 9,500 fully funded Early Years SENCO training places from April 2026
https://www.bestpracticenet.co.uk/early-years-SENCO
The Department for Education (DfE, England) is inviting early years practitioners
- who work with children aged 0-2 years old to take part an important new research opportunity.
https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=yXfS-grGoU2187O4s0qC-XVqN-pzUlpJkcMyRCJXHNFUNkFFTlFHNk5WV0pNN0Y1S0hVREU4V0ZYVC4u&route=shorturl
From COFACE Europe
For the International Day of Families 2026, COFACE Families Europe calls on its members and partners to support implementation of the EU Anti-Poverty Strategy, to drive real change for families in poverty and at risk of poverty. To this end, we invite all of you to tune into our upcoming EU policy webinar on 11th June from 14.00-16.00 to understand the new EU proposals and build partnerships to effectively address poverty through a family-centred lens.
https://coface-eu.org/event/the-eu-anti-poverty-strategy-a-pillar-of-social-and-economic-resilience/
How one rural school district is helping students with complex needs
Sophie Wheeler is a student wellness counsellor with the Prairie Rose School Division near Medicine Hat, Alta. CBC Medicine Hat bureau reporter Collin Gallant recently joined her on one of her regular 190-kilometre journeys to visit students in Oyen. It’s one way the district is helping students with complex needs, but the demand for those services is increasing.
https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/video/9.7131333
An estimated 8 million to 10 million infants and children live in orphanages around the world
The examples of cruelty and neglect are almost endless: Babies tied to their cribs. Children with disabilities who go without medical care and are left to die. Infants who don’t cry when they wake because they learn there is no point in crying because no one will come.
https://www.driadvocacy.org/orphanages-are-no-place-children
Dad-Care is looking for participants
If you are the father of a child aged approximately 0-5 years with a disability who was recently diagnosed (within the last two years or so) and are interested to participate, please complete the expression of interest form.
https://healthy-trajectories.com.au/opportunities/dad-care-support-for-dads-by-dads/
Racism and Socioeconomic Stress Alter Pregnancy Biology, Raising Maternal Mortality Risk for Black Women
Grace Amedor. The findings emerge from a comprehensive review led by emerging researcher Grace Amedor during her medical studies at Cambridge, emphasizing that these biological shifts are not innate but responses to lived experiences of inequality... The study underscores the role of higher education in tackling entrenched health disparities.
https://www.academicjobs.com/uk/research-publication-news/racism-impact-on-pregnancy-cambridge-study-on-black-women-mortality-risk-16345
Calling all autistic adults in the UK and Canada!
A team of researchers at the University of Warwick UK and CAMH in Toronto want to hear from you!
We want to understand what support looks like in the UK and Canada for autistic people. We also want to understand what you want support to look like. Share your experiences about mental health, social connection, and support by completing this 30-minute survey. You do not need to have a "formal" or "official" diagnosis to take part. Self-diagnosis is valid too!
Take part in the survey here: https://edc.camhx.ca/redcap/surveys/?s=XEPNAHRE79AHD9NR
Please email Dr Samantha Flynn (S.Flynn.1@warwick.ac.uk) if you have any questions about this survey.
2-year postdoctoral research fellow position within the Centre for Neurodiversity & Development
and the Global Centre for Contextual Safeguarding at Durham University UK. The postdoctoral fellow will lead a programme of research focused on neurodiversity / neurodivergence and contextual safeguarding - this may include a specific focus on intellectual disability. Closing date 20 May 2026. Start date 1 September 2026.
RIBY, DEBORAH <000166059f7c7af1-dmarc-request@JISCMAIL.AC.UK>
Integrating the Early Childhood Development Continuum of Care ECDHS
This new change package is designed to help community health centers and pediatric practices integrate the Early Childhood Development Continuum of Care in practice.
https://earlychildhoodimpact.org/resource/change-package-for-community-health-centers-integrating-the-early-childhood-development-continuum-of-care/
Easy read training day, July 2026, Birmingha, UK
Easy read is a simple accessible format that people with a learning disability prefer. The day includes an understanding of what easy read is, why it is important and gives lots of opportunities to create some easy read information and get feedback from the members of Building Bridges.
https://www.building-bridges-training.org/news/want-to-learn-more-about-producing-easy-read-information
Department for Education (UK) is carrying out research to understand how primary and secondary schools identify the needs of pupils with special educational needs (SEN)
- and select the strategies they use to support them. This research will involve a 1 hour Microsoft Teams call. If you express your interest in this research, we will be in touch to arrange a specific date and time for the call. Register your interest here:
https://forms.microsoft.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=yXfS-grGoU2187O4s0qC-VHmpiYgd4xDnCdC0gUDs3dURDFZMENYUUtDWkFUVkRYNlFLVkJENzdESS4u
Canada's Next Generation of Neuroanalytics Leaders CNS Program's Second Cohort
With scholars embedded within Canada's leading neuroscience hubs, the program offers early-career postdocs the opportunity to work with research and industry partners across the country while gaining interdisciplinary technical and translational skills. The cohort's national reach and collaborative model reflects the program's broader ambition: to position Canada as a leader at the intersection of brain science and advanced analytics.
https://braininstitute.ca/news-events/2026/obi-supports-canadas-next-generation-of-neuroanalytics-leaders-with-the-cns-programs-second-cohort
The National Collaborative for Infants & Toddlers - invites you to take action
Bringing together organizations and individuals across the US who want to improve the health and well-being of infants, toddlers, their families, and caregivers. Using policy advocacy as its tool, the NCIT and its members support federal state, local, and tribal efforts to pass effective policies and to maximize public investments in PN-3 systems.
https://ncit.org/
Women Without Men - book by Shahrnush Parsipur
Drawing on elements of Islamic mysticism and recent Iranian history, the novel depicts women escaping the narrow confines of family and society, and imagines their future living in a world without men.
https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/books/women-without-men
At least three children on average were born into war every minute in Sudan
- since the conflict erupted three years ago, as widespread violence, repeated attacks on civilian infrastructure, and the collapse of essential health services place millions of mothers and newborns at deadly risk, according to Save the Children.
https://www.savethechildren.net/news/sudan-three-children-born-war-every-minute-maternal-deaths-rise-and-health-services
New principles will support universities to tackle Black maternal health crisis - UK
The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) is to launch new anti-racism principles for the education of midwifery students, at universities across the four nations of the UK, to help tackle the Black maternal health crisis – which leads to Black, Asian and minority ethnic women being more likely to die or suffer harm during pregnancy and childbirth. Figures released by MBRRACE-UK* show that Black women are three times more likely to die during pregnancy or in the immediate postnatal period, and maternal mortality rates for Asian women are 1.3 times as high compared with White women.
https://www.nmc.org.uk/news/news-and-updates/new-nmc-anti-racism-principles-will-support-universities-to-tackle-black-maternal-health-crisis/
* https://www.npeu.ox.ac.uk/mbrrace-uk
UnderstandingCarers' experiences. Can you help? (UK)
From UCL. People with developmental disabilities such as learning disability or autism spectrum disorder are not often included in research. Research shapes the policies, treatments, and systems that affect real lives, and if diverse groups aren’t included, the results will be biased, incomplete, and more likely to widen the very inequalities they should be reducing.
Therefore, we invite you to participate in our study.
https://qualtrics.ucl.ac.uk/jfe/form/SV_ezjkLnePlDMpqtg
The National Best Practice Framework for Early Childhood Intervention – An overview for families
Australia. An introduction to the National Best Practice Framework for Early Childhood Intervention for families with young children with developmental concerns, delay or disability.
https://www.health.gov.au/resources/videos/the-national-best-practice-framework-for-early-childhood-intervention-an-overview-for-families?language=en
The National Best Practice Framework for Early Childhood Intervention – An overview for practitioners
Australia. An introduction to the National Best Practice Framework for Early Childhood Intervention for those working with young children with developmental concerns, delay or disability.
https://www.health.gov.au/resources/videos/the-national-best-practice-framework-for-early-childhood-intervention-an-overview-for-practitioners?language=en
New website for CSIE - England
CSIE is a national charity, established in 1982, working to develop more inclusive education for all, especially those with labels of special educational needs and disability (SEND).
https://csie.org.uk/what-is-inclusion/
Books Unbound
Education through Cartoonization. Contextualized learning materials for refugees and marginalized communities.
https://books-unbound.org/about-us/
But What About the Children? A statement from the International Step by Step Association (ISSA)
Across wars in recent years, from Ukraine to Gaza, and prior conflicts, children have borne the deepest and most enduring harms of war.Now, as another conflict escalates at a terrifying pace across an entire region, with ripple effects far beyond its borders, we are compelled to raise our voices again. And once again, we must ask: what about the children?
https://issa.nl/news/but-what-about-the-children-a-statement-from-the-international-step-by-step-association-issa
England Minister for Early Education and Minister for Equalities at the Department for Education has written a letter to early years providers.
The letter sets out the intention to amend the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) statutory framework, to clarify safeguarding requirements for children’s sleeping arrangements.
https://www.foundationyears.org.uk/files/2026/03/Letter-from-the-Minister-for-Early-Education-to-Sector.pdf
COFACE’s short explainer videos
Accessible insights into key topics affecting families today.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9wxOCin4v8n6taWniRPmU5KoM1oJAffV